I am not speaking about sounding like a live performance Charlie.
When we are recording in our small home "studio", we are doing a studio recording.
What I am trying to say is that sometimes we are so tired of all the technichal stuff (like arranging in BIAB, Cutting and pasting in RT,
Panning, putting the effects right etc.) that the vocal start to more on the tecnichal side. The timing is correct, the pitch is correct, but it has no soul.
So, when I am speaking of soul I am not refering to great singers like Elvis or Aretha Franklin or Mahalia Jackson.
I am more trying to say that our mood is reflected in the song. For example when you say yhe words "Oh, I love you" they can be said like they are ment to, but they can also be said in a way that absolutely is saying the upposite.
So, to know what the song is about will have great effect in the way that we are comunicating the song.
And like they say: If the song doesnt do something to you. why should it do something to others.
The professional songwriters do exactly this. They write a song, maybe the lyricks and the melody, then they make a demo recording and send it to someone who have connection with a studio. The studio likes the song, and they try a find a singer who can communicate the song for them.
I agree that we are amateurs, and that this is a hobby, but to my mind it is still possible to have a proffessional atitute which is.
We do the best we can to the best of our capabilities,then NO ONE can ask for more.
AS you onderstand from my writing,I am not English, but hopefully I got myself understandable.

Best regards
Tono